Chapter 25 Getting a bargain
In the end, the motorcycle factory closed the transaction for 350,000 francs.
During this period, Charles earnestly advised Djoka again and again:
"Father, the war is still going on and the outcome is still undecided. Are you going to stop thinking about it?"
"We may not even be able to find all the workers, they have almost escaped!"
"The car has already been sold for 910 francs, how can we expect a good price for the motorcycle?"
…
What Charles said was true, but Djoka was famously soft-hearted. He reluctantly answered:
"Charle, we should have a factory of our own. Besides, Mr. Francis is in urgent need of funds now. Buy it!"
Although Francis agreed with his mouth, he was laughing at Djoka in his heart: "Do you know why I put you aside? If you do business with this attitude, everything will be sent to the other party's hands, you are fooling this fool!"
Francis was completely unaware that these were all being performed for him, and Charles just caught the psychological reverse price reduction that he thought Djoka would be "emotional".
Djoka is no longer the Djoka he used to be!
At this time, Djoka seems to have lived what Francis hoped: to take revenge on the Bernard family, especially Francis, with hatred!
The reason why I say "seems" is because Djoka's starting point is to protect Charles. He does not want Charles to repeat his life or even worse!
After signing the contract and issuing the check, Ciel still looked angry and full of resentment.
Francis raised his eyebrows at Charles triumphantly, as if to say: "You are right, Charles! I completely agree with your point of view. The problem is that you are underage and you can't make the decision on some things! "
The two of them went downstairs in silence. Djoka took the rocker and started the car at the front. Charles got into the car without saying a word... At this time, the Ford car needed to be started manually. Five years later, the electric start car will be invented.
After the car drove some distance, Djoka and Charles looked at each other and smiled.
"Good cooperation!" Djoka said: "You are born to perform!"
"You're not bad either!" Ciel replied.
This time I got a bargain. The original price of the motorcycle was about 1 million francs. Francis exchanged it for 500,000 francs. He wanted to sell it for 600,000 francs, but the price was reduced to 350,000 francs...
From Francis' point of view, he did not lose money. He stopped the loss in time. What he really needs is the machine gun factory, which is continuously providing machine guns and bullets to the military. It seems that the motorcycle factory lost 150,000 francs. Reasonable.
What Francis didn't expect was that the motorcycle factory would also shine.
"It's up to you now!" Djoka turned to look at Charles while controlling the steering wheel: "Do you have any plans? I mean the motorcycle factory!"
"No need to plan!" Charles replied: "We just need to produce and wait!"
Djoka looked confused, is it that simple?
It's that simple!
During World War I, the military's communication equipment was extremely backward. Although there were telephones, they were expensive and only wealthy families could afford them. The special nature of military operations determined that they could not be used in large quantities.
This makes communication between troops rely on people and vehicles. Flexible and fast motorcycles have become the preferred means of transportation for communication troops. During World War I, the British Army alone was equipped with 20,000 vehicles.
The French army has no upper limit. Although they only equipped 30,000 motorcycles during World War I, that was because of insufficient funds and insufficient production and they needed to import. Otherwise, for an army of six to seven million people, 30,000 motorcycles would be far from meeting its needs!
With such a big market in front of us, and Shire holding a motorcycle factory in its hands, it still needs a plan?
Djoka suddenly thought of something. He asked Charles: "Aren't you worried that Francis is also prepared for the 'Holt 75' tractor mentioned yesterday?"
Charles understood what Djoka meant.
As the earliest introducer of "Holt" tractors in France, Francis should pay attention to the development of "Holt" tractors.
If Francis also knew about the "Holt Type 75" and bought it first, Charles' plan might have failed.
Charles replied calmly: "He knows, but he won't introduce it!"
Djoka said "huh?" and the car swayed due to distraction.
"Watch the car, father!" Charles reminded, and then explained: "It is easy to understand. All of Francis's equipment is used to produce 'Holt 60', and so are the skilled workers. If the equipment and workers are Switching to the production of 'Holt 75' is something Francis can't afford, at least not yet!"
Djoka suddenly understood.
The point is that Francis's tractor factory has a monopoly in France. "Holt 60" occupies 70% of the market share in France. No domestic tractor factory can compete with it.
Francis can maintain his lead as long as he continues like this. Of course, there is no need to upgrade the "Holt 60" to the "Holt 75".
Especially at this time, it was still during the war, and there was no money or motivation to upgrade the tractors when the tractors were unsaleable.
No one buys tractors, not because tractors are not advanced enough, but because there is no demand under the threat of war, and upgrading tractors becomes unnecessary and stupid!
Therefore, Francis knew that "Holt 75" was already popular in the UK, but he would not pay the price to introduce it. He would even block the news to make French farmers think that "Holt 60" was still the most popular in the world. Good tractor.
"You seem to be able to consider all the problems!" Deyoka smiled: "I really don't know what's in your little head. Why can't I see that you are so smart in studying?"
"Because studying is not doing business!" Charles replied: "That's a torture for me!"
Deyoka's expression was a little helpless: "Who cares? The purpose of studying is to make money..."
Before he finished speaking, fierce artillery sounds suddenly came from the direction of the Marne River, like thunder, one after another, and several stray bullets hit the south bank with a whistle, and exploded in the fields not far from the town, scaring the residents of the town to scream and flee everywhere.
Deyoka also became nervous. He stepped on the accelerator to speed up the car while cursing: "Damn it, our army launched an attack on the Germans! At this time!"
The car drove to the door and stopped, and Camille came up at a loss.
Dejoka almost dragged Charles out of the car, and shouted to Camille as he ran: "Go back, go to the basement, go to the basement!"
The three of them hurried back to the house, opened the door of the basement and went in. When closing the door, Dejoka gasped for breath, but he was finally relieved.
The sound of artillery was still ringing outside, and there were faint shouts and gunshots.
Camille was trembling with fear, but he mustered up the courage to comfort Charles in a low voice: "It's okay, it's okay!"
Dejoka turned on the light, and the swaying light illuminated the messy debris in the basement, and the air was filled with mold and dust.
"Don't worry!" Dejoka comforted: "It's safe here!"
Soon he added: "We must have confidence in the army, they will soon defeat the Germans and drive them away!"
Many people thought so. General Gallieni transferred the 6th Army from Paris, and they and the 5th Army attacked a German army together.
Two armies fought against one German army, so wasn't victory a given?
However, war was not as simple as they thought, and it was not a game of numbers or a comparison of military strength!
